Apparatus for assembling nozzle closure means for containers



Dec. 23, 1941.

A. H. CHURCH 2,267,015 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 17 Sheets-Sheetl /a A a? gI/Zk larva?) ars KARL cZ/QOLLE AND ALBERTfiO/URCH, DECEASED BY A ENNETH CEOWELL BAITER.

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v APPARATUS FOR A'SSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR- CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll ,ZWW6777J7U HARLcl/QOLLE AND AL-BER CHURCH, DECEASED BY KEN/v CeowELLBAxm/a ,floMl/v/sm/lroz (Ittorneg Dec. 23, 1941.

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ADMINISTRATOR Dec. 3, 1941. A. H. CHURCH 2,267,015 i A APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15,v 1938 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 Sea? 7526 BY KENNETH (Row/ELL BAITEE ADM/N15 m1: T018,

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Dec. 23, 1941.

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APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE 'MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 17 Sheets-Sheet ll KaeL J. ROLLE AND A L a 5/2 T 1% 010k: 01, DECEASED BY hE/v/vETH (ROM/ELL 1534x7152 ADMIN/5 72.4 T02.

Dec. 23, 1941. CHURCH 2,267,015

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 flue)? drs KARL ROLL: AND ALBERT hf 0/0201, DECEASED 5 Y KENNETH CEOWELL BAITEE.

A DMINISTIEATOE Dec. 23, 1941. A, CHURCH I 2,267,015

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1958 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 13 ,Z970e777d s' h'A/eL d. ROLLE AIVD ALBEE 7/71 CHURCH, 0565/4550 15v lfE/V/VETH OaowELL BAxTEE.

DM/N/STIQATO/E 33] 774 4.net alwiu I 7757 Dec. 23, 1941. A. H. CHURCH 2,267,015 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 17. Sheets-Sheet 14 ,Ziyraw ans KARL (1 ROLL: AND ALBERT/1f CHURCH, 05054550 5y KENNETH (Eon Eu. Bmcrse ADMINISTRATOR.

Dec. 23, 1941. A H. C URCH 2,267,015

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE QLOSURE'MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15 1938 17 Sheets-Sheet 1S flare 07's I Dec. 23, 1941. 4 CHURCH 2,267,015

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS kw 4, 12% Wt W #1 Cami M Dec. 23, 1941. CHURCH 2,267,015

APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING NOZZ LE CLOSURE MEANS FOR- CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 l7 Sheets-Sheet 17 II I I I we I v I 676 I Patented Dec. 23, 1941 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING' NOZZLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAWERS of Rhode Island Application August 15, 1938, Serial No. 224,948

' (c1. 29 ss) 63 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in nozzle closure means for containers, cans, tubes, bottles or the like. While our invention is particularly adapted for use with collapsible tubes, in which at least a portion of the valve seat for the oscillatable, substantially spherical valve closure member thereof may b extruded simultaneously with the extrusion of the tube, it is equally applicable as a bottle nozzle closure means, provided, if desired, with a depending flange, similar to the upper end forming flange of a collapsible tube and also, if desired, with a nozzle extension projecting downwardly therefrom adapted to fit within itself being provided with an extension going around the neck of the bottle. It is apparent when it is applied to cans and containers, either the whole can or container or the top of the container only may be extruded or formed simultaneously with the formation of the nozzle and valve seat. The invention is adapted to dis-' pense materials in powder form and more partic-' ularly is adapted to dispense materials in plastic, semi-plastic partially liquified form or liquid form and to provide at all times a positive closure for the nozzle means thereof which will not leak and has been proven in tests not to leak with water, glycerine or other types of chemicals over a long period of time.

While we are aware that others have provided nozzle closure means for containers, bottles, cans,

tubes and the like having at least a partially spherical closure member functioning as a valve and rotatably mounted in a suitably formed valve seat in the nozzle thereof, so far as we are aware these have been largely paper patents either impossible to manufacture or only made at a great expense. We believe that we are the first therefore to provide a nozzle closure means of this type which may be manufactured on a practical commercial basis in the manner described herein and which is positively liquid, chemical and air resistant, and in which the valve forms preferably with a countersunk washer, a liquid, chemical and air resistant positive joint when'in closed position and which may be readily manufactured in the simple manner shown herein and at a cost to make this type of a valve closure means possible under competitive conditions with other types of closure means now on the market.

As stated hitherto, the great difficulty with devices of this description has been that the valve action is not air or liquid resistant. An object of our invention therefore, is to provide a nozzle closure means of this general description in which the valve action is air, liquid and chemical resistant, and to this end we broadly provide, in combination, a valve seat constructed of thin more or less slightly yieldable metal preferably in such a manner that it of itself may be slightly yieldable, and construct the valve itself preferably of a predetermined chemical resistant preferably slightly yieldable composition material which functions in combination with the metal of the valve seat to form a substantially yieldable air and liquid tight joint at all times.

As a further precaution to insure an air tight, liquid tight joint, we preferably provide in the valve seat a countersunk preferably resilient fibre or other typeof washer to positively bear against the oscillatable valve at all times to insure a tight joint, said washer being preferably countersunk within the valve seat to keep it in accurate alignment therein at all times.

Great difiiculty has been hitherto experienced in the manufacture of collapsible tubes, containers and closure means therefor, in providing a closure .joint resistant to the specific chemicals which may be contained within the contents of said cans, containers, tubes, bottles or the like. By employing plasticizable composition'material we have been able to select the materials of which the valve is made to make it resistant specifically against the known chemicals'in thecontents of the container, for instance, resistant to mild acids, alkalis, alcohol, other solvents etc., andwe therefore construct the material of which our valve is preferably made of predetermined chemical characteristics to be so resistant;

Further objects of our invention are not only to provide a nozzle closure means ofthe type mentioned above which may, be readily and simply manufactured, but also to provide one which will positively oscillate and which will function to close or open the nozzle at all times. W preferably provide a turning-lug projecting upwardly through the open end of the nozzle to limit the oscillatable movement of the valve member from an open to a closed position by the sides of said lug abutting the sides of the upper end of the nozzle. We also provide means to positively pivot the valve member on a defined horizontal axis so that it may positively function at all times and not tend to slip around Within the valve seat so that the end or ends thereof will not come into accurate alignment with the nozzle end or ends. In order that the turning lug may positively function to both open and close the valve, we construct it so that in closed position the upper surface thereof projects substantially tangentially from the top of the valve,

so that it may be readily opened and provide the end of said lug having a tangential upper surface with an upturned portion to form an upwardly projecting tip or projection for the ready oscillation of said valve from an open to a closed position.

Further features of our invention relateto the improved method of manufacture of and certain details of construction thereof so that it may be readily manufactured in a commercial and practical manner. Thus we preferably mold the valve closure member with flattened opposite sides to assist in forming an axis of rotation therefor and we provide centrally thereof outwardly projecting pivot lugs of a length with the said adjacent central valve portion of substantially the exact diameter of said sphere so that if the valve be molded in hemi-spherical molds, the mold line will substantially pass through the centers of said flattened side portions and said lugs to permit the ready removal thereof in an easier manner than if indentations were provided in said flat portions which would be hard and almost impossible to remove from the molds, and as the total length of said pivot lugs taken through the axis thereof is not greater than that of the diameter of said sphere so that they may be more readily removed from the molds. A further detail in the construction of our valve which makes pressure molding thereof possible is the particular shape of the turning lug we preferably employ which includes a curved lower surface and a flat upper surface substantially tangential to said spherical valve and terminating in an upwardly bent outer end meeting said lower surface to form an outwardly projecting lug being so shaped for a double purpose namely so that said integrally molded lug may be readily pivoted out of a hemispherical valve mold by pivoting it therefrom on the point of contact of said mold with the lower surface of said lug, and to provide a turning lug engageable by the finger which will oscillate the valve in either direction.

A further feature of our valve construction is necessary to insert the valve closure member within the partially spherical extruded recess or lower valve seat portion and press inwardly diametrically opposite portions of said relatively thin nozzle upper wall against said diametrically opposite flat valve portions to cause the pivot lugs to be imbedded within the nozzle wall to form sockets to receive said pivot lugs 'to provide an axis of rotation for said valve.

Further features of the inherent construction of our improved closure device are that we pro vide a nozzle which may be readily extruded from a circular, annular or other type of blank in the form of a nozzle having a partially spherical lower valve seat portion in a thickened or lower portion thereof and a relatively thin upper wall projecting substantially vertically upwardly from said lower valve seat portion after which the insertion of the valve member therein may be readily crimped downwardly over said valve to provide a supplemental partially spherical upper valve seat portion for the upper portion of said valve to firmly retain it in position against said washer where employed and said lower valve seat portion formed during the extrusion process.

A further feature of our particular construction is that the countersunk annular recess for receiving the washer may be readily extruded in the valve seat simultaneously with the extrusion of the nozzle and also if desired supplemental metal saving recess means may be formed in the lower surface of said thickened portion to save the expense of additional metal or, if desired, the valve seat may be formed from an inwardly depending annular flange projecting inwardly from said nozzle. If desired, however, the countersunk washer receiving recess may be readily formed in the upper portion as well as the lower portion of said valve seat during the extrusion process.

Further objects of our invention therefore are to provide a novel method of pressure molding of selected predetermined chemical resistant composition material in which a valve of the desired type may be readily made at a minimum cost.

Further objects of our invention are to provide a novel type of extrusion apparatus and process for manufacturing the nozzle portion of our invention with a suitable lower partially spherical valve seat portion in a thickened portion of said nozzle preferably having a countersunk washer receiving recess therein and with the lower surface of said thickened portion underneath said valve seat being partially removed to save metal;

preferably extruded simultaneously with a flange projecting outwardly from a downwardly depending nozzle extension or a complete container or tube as shown.

Further features of our invention relate to the various features of construction of our valve and nozzle members hitherto described which function to provide a novel method of assembling them into a nozzle closuref unit which may be entirely manual, semi-automatic, or completely automatic.

Further features of our invention are to provide an improved apparatus for such assembly, being either fully automatic or requiring at the most a single operator. By providing the valve structure hitherto described and the valve seat structure also described in said nozzle, we have provided a construction whereby the nozzle may be readily mounted on a rotatable ring or conveyor and the following sequence of steps performed thereon during intermittent intervals of movement of said rotatable ring or conveyor, namely, (1) the mounting of said nozzle on suitable means on said conveyor, (2) manufacture, shaping and insertion of the fibre washer within the countersunk valve seat in the lower valve seat portion of said nozzle or upper valve seat portion, if desired, (3) the insertion of the oscillatable valve closure member so as to abut said washer and lower valve seat nozzle portion in correct alignment, (4) the downward crimping of said nozzle upper wall to provide a partially spherical upper valve seat portion enclosing said valve member and firmly securing it against said washer and said lower valve seat portion, (5) the inwardly pressing diametrically opposite portions of said relatively thin upper wall against said diametrically opposite flattened valve portions to form fiat abutting surfaces to accurately align the axis of oscillation of said valve within said nozzle and to simultaneously press the pivot lugs where employed into the relatively thin nozzle wall to form sockets therein to receive said pivot lugs to positively provide an axis of rotation for said valve member to keep the discharge passage thereof in'the desired alignment with the dispensing holes at the upper and lower ends of said nozzle when in open position, (6) oscillating said valve turning lug to move said valve member to a position closing said nozzle either by hand or by automatic meansif desired, ('7) again crimping the upper portion of said nozzle wall over said valve member to align said hollow upper valve seat portion and seal said valve in a shipping position and, (8) removing said assembled nozzle from said conveyor or ring. If desired, however, the first and second crimping steps and inwardly pressing axis forming steps may be performed simultaneously, the portions of the upper side wall of the nozzle being pressed inwardly against the fiat diametrically opposite valve side portions to provide the fiat abutting surfaces and lug sockets to provide a true axis of oscillation for said valve member while the upper end of said nozzle wall portion is being bent downwardly over the upper surface of said valve to form the upper valve seat portion, it being apparent that these two operations are performed simultaneously with the crimping step, preferably maintained slightly longer. In our preferred embodiment, we have shown mandrel means for supporting the nozzle during this sequence of steps and indexing means to advance said ring or conveyor amounts to progressively change stations to permit the above described sequences of assembly steps to be performed thereon during the intervals between said progressive advancements. It is obvious that any type of continuous conveyor may be employed and in our preferred embodiment we preferably employ a ring rotatably mounted on a suitable standard on which the desired tools to accomplish the steps described are mounted on the respective stations thereof to perform the actual work thereon at these stations between the intermittent intervals of movement of said conveyor or ring.

Further features of our invention are therefore to provide a novel type of apparatus for this method of assembly which may be done either by hand, semi-automatically, or fully automatically to save the number of operatives required.

While our invention is particularly applicable for use in the manufacture of collapsible tubes, cans, containers, etc., which may have either the upper portion or entire body thereof simultaneously extruded with the formation of the nozzle, it is apparent that our invention may be equally applicable to bottle closures which may also be provided with an outwardly projecting annular flange analogous to a can or container top or collapsible tube top and if desired the nozzle portion may be extended below said spherical valve seat portion in the extrusion process to provide means whereby an annular cork or other device may be employed to surround said extruded nozzle for insertion within a bottle neck. If desired, the entire valve closure member may be constructed hollow and the valve seat portion of the nozzle similarly enlarged if necessary so as to receive and dispense a predetermined bulk of powder, liquid, or other material contained within said hollow valve. For this purpose we preferably provide the hollow valve seat portion with a single discharge end and we preferably construct the cooperating surfaces of the nozzle side wall and the nozzle inlet and outlet holes so that the predetermined bulk holding hollow valve may be moved to three positions, namely (1) a position to fill said hollow valve when the bottle or container is in inverted position, (2) to a loaded position in which the hollow valve is turned so that the discharge vent is completely sealed by the side wall of the nozzle, which posi tion may provide a convenient loaded position taking a much less time to dispense from than if first filling the hollow valve portion and mediately discharging it, and (3) to a position bringing the discharge vent in the hollow valve member into substantial alignment with the nozzle discharge hole for discharging. This specific embodiment of our invention is specifically adapted for use when serving liquors at a crowded bar, as the bar-keeper may at intervals load up the hollow valve member and pivot it to loaded or cooked posit-ion again ready for immediate dispensing.

An object of our invention therefore is to broadly cover in this application the broad inventive method and apparatus set forth in said prior application in whatever respects this application is a true divisional application with the advantages of such assembly, method and apparatus set forth therein.

A further object of our invention is to provide a completely automatic machine for automatically assembling valves in nozzles in accordance with the teachings of said prior application and involves novel structural arrangements and combination of means for carrying out the broad principles set forth in said application.

A further object of our invention is to provide a fully automatic machine which will substantially eliminate all but one low-priced attendant in its operation, a machine in which no time is lost between operations and a machine capable of speeding up the assembly over a hand operation requiring two high priced operators substantially 1000%. It is apparent that we have not only speeded up thespeed of operations substantially 1000%, but have substantially lessened the labor cost attendant thereon 75%, thus effectually lowering the total cost of assembly 4000%, the power cost to operate our improved machine being negligible.

These and such other objects of our invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate various embodiments of our invention applied to collapsible tubes, or containers, bottle tops, and various steps in its method of manufacture and apparatus suitable therefor.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube equipped with our invention. d

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of said collapsible tube including the nozzle portion thereof with the valve closure member thereof in closed position. a

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with the valve member oscillated to an open dispensing position. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 4,4 of Fig. 2 at right angles to the section shown therein to illustrate the improved means we preferably employ for positively providing an axis of oscillation for the valve closure member within the tube nozzle. 1

Fig, 5 is a plan View of the tube prior to. the assembly of the valve closure member therein, showing the washer in the countersunk recess of the lower valve seat portion thereof.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 looking upwardly at the lower end of said nozzle and attached valve member.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the improved valve member wepreferably employ.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the improvedvalve member we preferably employ.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along 

